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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To Not Buy Tenants a New Microwave?

248 replies

Applefruitcake · 06/02/2022 18:52

Hi, just trying to figure out what would be 'expected' in this situation. New tenants have asked for the microwave to be replaced because its old. It is honestly old but in full working condition (tenants have confirmed), it had been professionally cleaned but it is used so has some staining.

First of all, would you even expect for a microwave to be provided in a furnished property? Is it a 'standard' appliance? Second, is it expected of landlords to replace items for aesthetic reasons only?

Sorry, I'm new to all this

OP posts:
MinglingFlamingo · 06/02/2022 19:21

@Jedsnewstar

Old microwaves are dangerous as they can leak.

You can also pick them up for £10-£15 in Asda etc.

Does you flat get a yearly electrical PAT tested? The microwave at work gets tested for leakage when it's PAT tested. If it leaked it would fail the PAT test
Notglam · 06/02/2022 19:22

Replace the microwave

Aquamarine1029 · 06/02/2022 19:22

@scaresdale

Fuck sake just buy your tenants a new fucking microwave Angry
My thoughts exactly. Not a big ask, is it? If it's old it needs to be replaced.
betwixtlives · 06/02/2022 19:22

@Thefrenchconnection1

If it's fine then swap yours with theirs. No? You don't want to? Buy them a new one then if it's not good enough for you.
this. If theirs is fine, swap it with yours
HappyDays40 · 06/02/2022 19:22

I wouldn't be happy using a manky microwave especially as uts got other people's food stains in it. Why don't you just by a new one you can get them for less than £50.00.

ChocolateMassacre · 06/02/2022 19:23

You need to at least offer to take it away so they can buy their own new microwave. I don't think you necessarily have to provide a microwave but neither should you use their property to warehouse ancient electrical appliances in poor condition.

Concestor · 06/02/2022 19:24

Stained? Ugh. Just replace it.

Wavypurple · 06/02/2022 19:25

Get a grip. It’s a microwave. Get a new one with the ££££ in income you’re getting from the tenants having to beg for a modern appliance.

This is why I can’t stand landlords.

mum2jakie · 06/02/2022 19:25

@Jedsnewstar

Old microwaves are dangerous as they can leak.

You can also pick them up for £10-£15 in Asda etc.

Bollocks can you!!! When was the last time you went shopping for a new microwave!! Be lucky to find one for less than £50 nowadays!
HelloFrostyMorning · 06/02/2022 19:26

@Cissyandflora

I’m new to renting. The microwave here is awful. As are lots of the appliances. The rental cost is absolutely extortionate. There is an old stained and moth holed carpet. There’s just so much wrong with it. The weekly rent is a month’s salary. (We are here very short term). We have mice. The landlord said I have to pay for treatment! We have been here a few weeks. Mice here for years so I’m told by neighbours. Bloody awful rude landlord. I would not even bother to ask about the crappy microwave. Everything is crappy. If I were a landlord I would invest. It is better for you in the end because your tenants will feel like you care and I do think it’s relative to the cost of the rental. If you’re charging too rental amount then it would be reasonable to have good appliances. I’m so unhappy in this house! And it’s because of the rude miser who’s ripping me off.
Say what now? Your weekly rent is a MONTH'S salary? Where do you live? Buckingham Palace? And how do you even make this work? Confused

@Applefruitcake If it's a furnished flat, and the old microwave is manky and old, then just buy a new one. It's £30 for a decent one from Asda or Tesco.

BurntO · 06/02/2022 19:26

If you provided it when they moved in then I would expect it to be in full working order and clean. If it is beyond cleaning then YABU

HelloFrostyMorning · 06/02/2022 19:27

Actually, probably more like £40 to £45 sorry.

Lampshading · 06/02/2022 19:28

@scaresdale

Fuck sake just buy your tenants a new fucking microwave Angry
Hmm

Lesson here is to not include electrical appliances like microwave, kettle or toaster- the expectation will be that you replace them when really if they're so cheap as people keep saying on this thread the tenants can buy them and take it with them when they move out. As is, I'd buy a cheap one just because its not worth the hassle of arguing about it.

stuntbubbles · 06/02/2022 19:29

I would expect the person profiting from my need to have a roof over my head to just buy a non-stained decent microwave without quibbling over it.

Crayfishforyou · 06/02/2022 19:29

Buy the microwave and then when the contract is up for renewal/new tenants take small appliances off the inventory. It’s just too much hassle.

Wrenna · 06/02/2022 19:30

I’m going to ask what a previous poster did: what is the stain and did they do it? I would not want to use a stained microwave, that’s just gross, when the cost of a new one is so minimal.

TabithaTittlemouse · 06/02/2022 19:30

I have never rented a property with a microwave, an oven yes but no microwave!
I didn’t know this was a thing!

Unless it’s an integrated microwave?

Heytheredemons · 06/02/2022 19:31

No I wouldn't replace it. They want brand new, rather than 2nd hand in working order, they buy their own and take it with them when they leave at end of tenancy.

Some tenants are just uber cheeky

yorkshireteaspoonie · 06/02/2022 19:31

Where on earth is everyone getting these dirt cheap microwaves?? £15?? I bought one recently and the cheapest I found are like £50 and that was in argos and asda.

But yes OP I do think you should provide a new one if there is one their that you have provided previously. I had suspicions mine was getting old and two weeks later it started to smell like burning so i chucked it outside the front door quick sharpish before the smell of smoke became flames!

TheHuntingoftheSnark · 06/02/2022 19:32

A new microwave is cheaper than voids in tenancy because you've pissed your tenants off. Good tenants are worth maintaining.

Original poster
Applefruitcake · 06/02/2022 19:33

Wow £10-15 for a microwave?? 😶 Even if they did exist, they would probably break the next day. I personally don't own a microwave, so it's hard to tell if it's 'essential' for others

OP posts:
mum2jakie · 06/02/2022 19:34

Exactly @yorkshireteaspoonie people are making up these ridiculous cheap prices that just don't exist anymore! Haven't people realised how much the cost of white (electrical) goods have increase over the past two or three years?

FoamBurst · 06/02/2022 19:35

How old is old.

We rent there was a washing machine, fridge freezer and cooker. The washing machine and fridge freezer were manky full of thick mould etc
The landlord said we could get rid and use our own as the old ones had been donated by him to previous tenants who then ruined them they should have left them there.

The cooker we got cleaned. But he's since replaced the entire kitchen re plastered etc and replaced the cooker and hob.

I guess we're lucky really.

FoamBurst · 06/02/2022 19:36
  • shouldn't have left them there
Suzi888 · 06/02/2022 19:36

@Mandofan

Microwaves aren’t expensive so I’d just get them a new one. I wouldn’t want to use a stained microwave
^ I would just get one